Horse has stitches after being attacked by dog

A horse has received 12 stitches to her leg after being attacked by a dog on a beach.

‘Hysterical’

Mandy Dyson was riding out riding with her mum Denise on Black Rock Sands near Porthmadog in Wales on Tuesday (8 March) when the attack happened.

A Doberman spotted the two riders and headed straight for Mandy’s horse Poppy. Denise said they tried “screaming” at the dog, while the owner tried to catch him.

“Poppy was spinning around and kicking and Mandy was hysterical,” Denise told Wales Online(warning: article contains graphic photos of injuries).

“The dog was biting Poppy all over her underbelly and her legs. It was like something you see on TV. Its teeth were showing and it was salivating.”

‘Really shocked’

Mandy managed to dismount, and Poppy bolted, which is when the dog finally ran off. Denise tried to block the entrance to the beach to prevent Poppy getting onto the road.

The owner of the dog then managed to grab the Doberman, while Poppy was also safely caught. According to Denise the owner was “really shocked” and very apologetic.

“There was nothing anybody could have done,” she said. “I have had experiences of dogs trying to attack a horse before, but the owners are usually not apologetic,” she said.

Stitches

The dog ripped the skin off Poppy’s leg almost down to the bone and she needed 12 stitches. The Welsh section D X Thoroughbred is now on box rest for 10 days, but the vet has said if there is further tendon damage she will need at least six months off work.